The Port of Hood River is becoming more convinced it can make a connection between a boat striking an Interstate Bridge pier last fall and damage to the socket slip and cable for the lift span.  The Port continues to discuss the matter with their insurance company.  Port Executive Director Michael McElwee says with the cost of the needed repairs to the lift span, having it covered by insurance would save the Port quite a bit of money.  He thinks a decision on whether they have a defensible claim will come in a month to six weeks.  The Port’s insurance policy on the bridge does have a $250,000 deductible.  

The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce had representatives this past week at the Pacific Northwest Sportsmen’s Show in Portland.  Chamber CEO Lisa Farquharson says this is the second year they’ve attended the show, adding it fits the profile of The Dalles perfectly, with fishing, hiking, hunting, and other activities in the area.  Farquharson felt they had a good week at the show, making about 2,500 connections with people, which she defines as talking to people rather than simply handing out a brochure.  She says the most common question from people was “where is The Dalles?”

Two bills sponsored by Washington 14th District Representative Gina McCabe, one to crack down on voyeurism and another to study the costs and benefits of equipping school buses with seat belts, have cleared the House.  House Bill 2970 would eliminate a provision in current law where it must be proven a person was engaged in voyeurism for the purpose of arousal or sexual gratification, creating a crime of voyeurism in the second degree.  The Goldendale Republican says that she introduced the bill after learning more about what is called “upskirting”:  using a camera on a cell phone or other device to record under the skirts of unknown victims.  The other legislation, House Bill 2639 would commission a study to analyze the costs and benefits of installing seat belts on school buses.  Six states currently require school-bus seat belts.  Both bills move to the Senate for further consideration.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture has released seven counties from an emergency quarantine restricting shipments of plants susceptible to a bacterial disease caused by Xylella fastidiosa, but Hood River County remains under the quarantine.  Results from samples taken in a recently completed survey for the disease in Hood River County are still pending, and movement.  Based on results of the survey, Benton, Jackson, Lane, Marion, Multnomah, and Yamhill counties are free of the pathogen and are released from the quarantine, while Washington County is also released from the quarantine despite the presence of Xylella fastidiosa in a single location, with the affected grower entering into a compliance agreement with to eliminate the pathogen.  Linn County, the site of the original detection of the disease, remains in quarantine.  Movement of pears from Linn and Hood River counties remains restricted under the emergency quarantine, adopted in November 2015 in response to a confirmed detection of Xylella fastidiosa in pear trees from a single location in Linn County.  Potentially infected pears were shipped into eight other counties from that location.  Under the quarantine requirements, no pear trees could be shipped intrastate from those counties until the survey had been conducted.

Swimming Hood River Valley won the girls’ title and Pendleton the boys’ championship at the Columbia River Conference meet at the Hood River Aquatic Center.  Dhani Freeland, Courtney Castaneda, and Allison Burke each won two events for the HRV girls, who also won two relays, while The Dalles received event victories from Molly Nelson and Natalie Varland along with the 200 yard freestyle relay team.  In the boys’ competition, HRV’s David Walker won two events and Cameron Marquez-Villegas won one.   Wrestling Zane Cully won the 182 pound title as Goldendale finished sixth in the SCAC Regional Meet at Highland.  Cully defeated Chase Pidgeon of Zillah by fall at 4:46 in the 182 final.  Three other Timberwolves advanced to this coming weekend’s state 1A Mat Classic in Tacoma, with Bryce Wilkins finishing third at 170 pounds, Mark Briggs at 160, and Cameron Read was fourth at 220.   Stevenson’s Cody Miller and Colton Van Pelt won titles at the Southwest Washington Class 1-A regional wrestling tournament in Castle Rock.  Miller won the 132 pound bracket by fall over Fletcher Andrews of Columbia, while Van Pelt won the 170 final with a 5-4 decision over Artimus Johnson of Hoquiam.  Noah Richart of Stevenson also qualified for the state meet, as did Columbia’s Andrews, Eli Bell, James Bell,  Alex Medina, and Paul Demchuk.   Hood River Middle School’s Emily Sullenger won the 81 pound division in the Oregon girls’ middle school wrestling state championships at Hood River Valley High School.  Hood River’s Madelynn Trujillo and The Dalles’ Iris Hernandez and Elejah Sutton-Lott earned third place finishes.   Alpine Skiing Hood River Valley’s girls had the four fastest times in a Mt. Hood League slalom at Mt. Hood Meadows.  Erin Sutherland was the winner, followed by Josie Petersen, Claire Davies, and Paris Nunn.  Timarra Roth was the top finisher for The Dalles in 15^th place.  The Eagle boys grabbed four of the top six places in their race, led by a 1-2 finish from Montana Kurahara and William Lamer.  Colin Howe of Columbia was third, while Preston Klindt of The Dalles was tenth.   Southwest Washington 1A Girls Basketball Regional Tournament Columbia 44, Hoquiam 43:  The Bruins came back from 10 points down in the fourth quarter for the victory that continues their season.  Kayla McClain led CHS with 14 points, as the Bruins will now meet Montesano on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in Kelso.   Stevenson 43, Eatonville 41:  Amya St. Martin hit a jumper at the buzzer to lift the Bulldogs to the win and a game vs. Elma on Wednesday at 8 p.m. in Kelso.   Greater Columbia League Basketball Tournament at Goldendale Girls First Round Yakama Tribal 44, Lyle-Wishram 42   Girls Second Round Lyle-Wishram 57, Bickleton 35 (LW vs. Yakima Tribal Tues. at 6 p.m. at Goldendale for regional berth)   Boys First Round Sunnyside Christian 83, Lyle-Wishram 37   Boys Second Round Bickleton 64, Lyle-Wishram 28   Boys Basketball Hood River Valley 67, The Dalles 46 Dufur 53, Condon-Wheeler 47 Dufur 48, Arlington 32 South Wasco 68, Ione 50 South Wasco 62, Mitchell-Spray 43 Horizon Christian 63, Mitchell-Spray 41 Horizon Christian 59, Ione 38 Sherman 77, Arlington 57 Sherman 81, Condon-Wheeler 45   Girls Basketball The Dalles 59, Hood River Valley 44 Horizon Christian 28, Mitchell-Spray 21 Horizon Christian 42, Ione 39 Condon-Wheeler 57, Dufur 29 Arlington 44, Dufur 29 Ione 43, South Wasco 25 South Wasco 46, Mitchell-Spray 30 Arlington 65, Sherman 27 Condon-Wheeler 54, Sherman 33

Oregon 29th District State Senator Bill Hansell is expressing cautious optimism that a bill that would uphold the removal of the gray wolf from the state’s endangered species list will pass.  A House bill authored by District 58 Representative Greg Barretto passed through committee this week, and Hansell says a nearly identical Senate bill he wrote as a backup will get a committee hearing.  Passage of one of the bills would ratify the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission’s decision to remove the gray wolf from the list.  Some conservation groups have sued the state over that decision.

Northern Wasco County PUD is again warning customers of a telephone scam that is targeting local businesses.  The customers are reporting that individuals claiming to be with Pacific Power and if they do not pay their bill by calling a toll free number their power will be shut off.  Northern Wasco County PUD says it always advises customers to never give out credit card and bank account information or cash to someone posing as a PUD Representative.  Northern Wasco County PUD employees carry PUD identification.  If in doubt, get the individual’s name and immediately call the Northern Wasco County PUD Office at (541) 296-2226.  The PUD also encourages customers to be on the alert for solicitations claiming to offer rebates for energy efficiency upgrades in your home.  PUD Energy Specialists are available for rebate information at (541) 296-2226.

Southwest Washington Class 1A Girls Basketball Tournament First Round Elma 61, Columbia 43:  CHS will meet Hoquiam in a loser-out game on Saturday at King’s Way Christian. Montesano 58, Stevenson 37:  Stevenson will face Eatonville on Saturday at Centralia in a loser-out game.   Prep Wrestling Hood River Valley 73, The Dalles 6:  Trystan Fisher and Mark Reyes won matches by fall to lead the Eagles.  Joe Linebarger was the lone Riverhawk winner, by fall in less than 45 seconds.  

The Hood River County School District board formally approved a resolution to put a 20-year, 57-million dollar bond measure on the May ballot that will not raise the current tax rate, address major maintenance needs at all of the district’s facilities, and construct a new May Street Elementary School on the same property as it is located now.  Long-time board member Jan Veldhuisen-Virk said the decision to commit the tax rate for the 20-year term was difficult, but added the district’s facility needs were too numerous not to take the step.  The bond measure was developed over a number of months involving a number of different school district personnel and community members.  The district has a bond expiring this year, so this measure would not raise the current tax rate.    Another district bond comes off the books in 2023.

The Gorge Community Foundation has received an anonymous one million dollar contribution to promote charitable giving in the region.  The Gorge Community Foundation manages more than 70 permanent charitable endowments in the region.  Foundation executive director Dan Spatz says the donation will significantly grow what had been a total combined endowment of four million dollars.  Spatz also hopes the donation will make the community more aware of what the foundation does.  It has awarded more than one million dollars in grants since 2003, including $112,000 in 2015.